Coin or Token Transfer System

ABSTRACT

A coin or token game has a lower hopper  8  and upper hopper  10  and a lift system  18  for bringing tokens from the lower hopper to the upper hopper. The lift system  18  is pivoted around a point close to the lower hopper and fixed with respect to the upper hopper  10  in such a way that the upper end of the lift system follows the upper hopper  10  as the upper hopper  10  moves laterally across the playfield  2.

The invention relates to a coin transfer system and method of operation.

Coin and token transfer systems are widely used in games to transfercoins in coin or token games such as pusher games and coin fall games.For brevity, the rest of this specification will refer to “tokens”instead of “coins or tokens”—please note that the term “tokens” isintended to include coins.

“Pusher” games are games of a type with a generally flat table, normallyat more than one level, and reciprocating motion of an arm or anotherlevel of table across the table. Tokens are generally introduced ontothe table by the player, who attempts to have the tokens fall off thetable into a win chute.

“Coin fall” games are those in which coins fall, typically singly, downa board. The player aims to cause the coin to fall into win zones.

Typically, coins or tokens arrive at the bottom of a game either afterfalling as part of the play of the game or after introduction into acoin slot. They are then raised to one or more from where they can bereleased onto a playing surface.

Existing approaches to raising tokens include an escalator hopper, whichis a belt generally at an inclined angle that turns. Tokens areintroduced onto the lower portion of the belt and raised on the belt tothe top, where they fall off into an upper hopper. Such systems workwell for height gains up to about 50 cm or so.

The alternative is to use some form of bucket lift system, i.e. a hopperthat is lifted to the desired final location.

In general terms, coin fall or pusher games need some element of skill.This greatly enhances enjoyment of the game, and can be demanded byregulation in some markets. There is therefore a desire for the user tobe able to control where the token is introduced onto the play surface.

In very old-fashioned games, this could be achieved by some form ofmechanical ramp which could be moved by the player. However modern gamesare generally fully computer controlled and such ramps cannot easily beintegrated in modern games. Instead, the skill can be increased by meansof what is known as a “skill arm”. In such an arrangement, tokens arecollected in an upper hopper, from where they are fed to the “skillarm”. Tokens can be brought to the upper hopper by an escalator hopperor an elevator as required. The skill arm can be moved by the player,generally by rotation about an axis, to cause the tokens to be directedas desired. However, this approach offers a limited range ofpossibilities for the introduction of tokens, since the skill arm cannotintroduce tokens across a wide playing surface, since it needs tocollect the tokens from the upper hopper.

Further, normally the skill arm is arranged to move continuously fromside to side and the player selects when to release a token by pressinga button or other control. In some arrangements, pressing the buttonbriefly pauses the motion of the skill arm while the token isintroduced. However, this approach still only allows a limited range oftoken introduction positions.

WO07/096625 describes a game which combines a coin fall game with a flatpanel display screen which forms the rear surface of a playing field.Tokens can be introduced at one of two different locations, either atthe left or right of the playing field. In one embodiment, separatehoppers are provided, one for each token introduction point, each hopperhaving a separate bucket lift system. However, such limited choice oflocation for token introduction may not be sufficient to provideinterest for many players, who would prefer greater freedom and thechance to exercise greater skill.

Accordingly, there remains a need for the provision of a flexible tokenintroduction system in combination with a lift system.

According to the invention, there is provided a token game in which anupper hopper and a coin introduction system are mounted for lateralmovement across a playfield as a unit so that the tokens can beintroduced at various locations across the playfield; and the upper endof a lift system is linked to the unit so that the lift system followsthe lateral movement of the unit so that coins can be raised by the liftsystem from the lower hopper to the upper hopper regardless of thelocation of the unit across the playfield.

The inventors have realised that by linking the lift system to the upperhopper and token dispenser it is possible to continuously supply tokensto the token introduction system without interrupting the gameregardless of the location of the upper hopper. This in turn allows fora continuous play of the game without needing to return the upper hopperto a fixed docking position for refill which would interrupt the game.

For a better understanding of the invention, embodiments will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 isa schematic drawing of a token game according to a first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, a token game is illustrated which has asubstantially vertical playfield 2, in the present case formed by thefront surface of a liquid crystal flat display screen 4. In this regard,the game is a development of the game described in WO07/096625 fromwhich further details of the screen and operation may be obtained.Tokens 6 are collected in a lower hopper 8, either from the playfield 2or when entered into the machine by a player.

An upper hopper 10 is connected to a token injection system 12. Theupper hopper 10 and token injection system 12 can move as a unit 14laterally across the top of the playfield 2 on horizontal rails 16. Thetoken injection system 12 is arranged to inject single or multipletokens onto the top of the playfield 2 for the play of the game. Thetokens then fall across the playfield during the game and generally enddirectly or indirectly in the lower hopper 8.

Alternatively or additionally, the upper hopper 10 may be mounted on abelt (not shown) to drive the upper hopper from side to side. In thiscase, the rails 16 are optional—they provide greater stability to theupper hopper 10.

Optionally, a pusher arrangement (not shown) is provided at the bottomof playfield 2 and tokens from the playfield land on the pusherarrangement. In this case, it is tokens falling from the pusherarrangement that arrive in the lower hopper, thus indirectly from theplayfield 2.

Alternatively, tokens from the playfield 2 are collected at the bottomof the playfield and directly passed to lower hopper 8. Both the lowerhopper and upper hopper including coin counting mechanisms,

To get tokens from the lower hopper 8 to the upper hopper 10 a liftsystem 18 is provided. The lift system 18 is pivoted on pivot 20arranged adjacent to the fixed lower hopper 8. The upper end of the liftsystem 18 is located on the upper hopper using a linkage 22 so that theupper end of the lift system follows the upper hopper 10 as the upperhopper moves horizontally along the rails.

In the embodiment shown, the lift system 18 is a bucket lift systemhaving a bucket 22 and guide 24 that guides the bucket. The bucket 22rises past the upper hopper 10 and is then inverted to deposit tokensfrom the bucket into the upper hopper 10. In the lower position, thebucket 22 is positioned to take coins from the lower hopper 8.

The upper surface of the upper hopper 10 has a flange 14 which acts as afunnel to collect tokens. In this way, the upper surface of the upperhopper can collect tokens even when the upper hopper is at the extremeends of its travel.

The linkage between the upper hopper 10 and the lift system needs toallow sufficient flexibility to accommodate the pivoting of the liftsystem 18. One option is to provide two rollers 11 on either side of theupper hopper to contain the lift system 18. An alternative option is touse pins or struts instead of the rollers. However, the use of rollersallows for free motion of the pivoted lift system,

In an alternative embodiment, the lift system is an “vertical lifthopper” also known as an “escalator hopper”. Such systems have a metalchannel which allows the token to be pushed up the channel by a rotatingdisc or other source mounted at the hopper. Such systems arecommercially available, and are suitable in particular for height gainsof up to 50 cm or 1 m, or even higher with suitable tokens.

The complete lift system 18 may itself have a frame to which the pivotis attached. Alternatively, a pivoted bar may be provided and the liftsystem 18 mounted on the bar.

The token game also includes a control system 26, in the form of acomputer, that controls the operation of the token game.

The inventors have realised that by using a lift system 18 that pivots,it is possible to achieve a continuous delivery of tokens across theplayfield under full control. The inventors originally conceived of thedelivery of tokens to a fixed position of the upper hopper 10, and theneed to bring the upper hopper 10 to this fixed position to load theupper hopper with tokens. This, however, would require the interruptionof the game from time to time to load the upper hopper. In contrast, thepivoting lift system 18 allows tokens to be continuously delivered tothe upper hopper.

Both the upper and lower hopper of the embodiment described includetoken counting features which are used to check correct operation of theapparatus. However, such token counting features may not be required inall applications and may be omitted.

Indeed, the upper and lower hoppers may have any form, for examplecartridges. One option is for the upper hopper to be a cartridge holdinga predetermined number of tokens that can eject those tokens—the numberof tokens may be quite small in some examples. Of course, where thenumber of tokens in the cartridge is small, rapid refill of thecartridge wherever it is located is particularly useful For example, theupper hopper may be a cartridge holding only two tokens which may berapidly ejected using a solenoid. Those skilled in the art will realisethat many types of token container may be used as the upper and lowerhoppers.

Those skilled in the art will realise that the invention can be appliedequally to games of other types. For example, the invention can beapplied to a games involving a static or rolling band where the playeraims tokens at targets on the band.

1. A token game, comprising: a playfield; a lower hopper for collectingtokens; an upper hopper for collecting tokens; a token introductionsystem mounted with the upper hopper for introducing tokens from theupper hopper to the playfield; and a lift system for raising tokens fromthe lower hopper to the upper hopper, wherein the upper hopper and coinintroduction system are mounted for lateral movement across theplayfield as a unit so that the tokens can be introduced at variouslocations across the playfield; and the upper end of the lift system islinked to the unit so that the lift system follows the lateral movementof the unit so that coins can be raised by the lift system from thelower hopper to the upper hopper regardless of the location of the unitacross the playfield.
 2. A token game according to claim 1 furthercomprising rollers on the unit to engage with the lift system
 3. A tokengame according to claim 1 wherein the lower end of the lift system ispivoted adjacent to the lower hopper.
 4. A token game according to claim3, wherein the lift system is a bucket lift system having a guide alongwhich a bucket moves, the guide being pivoted adjacent to the lowerhopper and the upper hopper being connected to the guide so that theguide follows the motion of the unit across the playfield.
 5. A tokengame according to claim 1 wherein the lift system is an vertical liftsystem having a guide for guiding tokens from the lower hopper to theupper hopper and a means for ejecting tokens up the guide at the lowerhopper.